Get matched with top deck cleaning pros in Eagle Lake, ME

Always sand a deck before repainting so the wood is smooth and ready for paint. While you do not need to fully remove paint before repainting, sanding helps remove any areas with weather and sun damage. Sanding also helps remove chipped or flaking paint and opens the wood pores to improve paint adhesion.

Wet-sanding and dry-sanding each have pros and cons. Dry-sanding is less messy, so it’s a good option if you’re trying to minimize dust (for example, if you’re sanding an occupied home or working with particularly dry or dusty drywall mud). However, dry-sanding is quicker because you don’t have to keep rinsing a sponge or wait for it to dry before painting.

Here's the deal with leaving used rags covered in oil-based stain lying around in a pile: Depending on the conditions, these rags can take just an hour or up to a few days to combust. The source of ignition is caused by trapped heat that can be compounded if the rags are near a heat source.

You should always wash your deck before staining to remove debris, built-up grime, mold, mildew, and old, flakey finish. Failing to remove these impurities will cause the stain to look patchy, as it cannot evenly saturate the wood grain. Stain may also have drastically reduced lifespan when applied to a dirty surface. Always wait at least 48 hours after cleaning the wood to apply stain to ensure the surface is fully dry.